Game apparatus.



0. L. WOOD.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED rams, 1912.

' Patented May 7, 1912.

CHARLES L. WOOD, OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Ietters Patent.

Patented May *7, 1912.

Application filed February 23, 1912. Serial No. 679,341.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. WOOD, a

citizen of the United States, residing in VVoburn, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like carts. 1 This invention relates to a game apparatus of the kind commonly known as a parlor bowling game, and has for its object to provide a simple, attractive and efiicient apparatus for the purpose specified.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a game apparatus embodying this invention. Fig. 2, a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4, a section on the line 4:l, Fig. 3. Fig. 5, a detail of one of the tablets, and Fig. 6, a side elevation of the device in its inoperative position.

The game apparatus shown in the drawing, consists of a plurality of display tablets or plates a located in a series of boxes or casings 72 mounted to swing on a rod 0 supported at its ends by uprights cl, which are secured by hinges e to side bars or base pieces f, designed to rest on the parlor floor or other flat support, as for instance, a table. In the present instance, the rod 0 has hung upon it six boxes or casings b, which are suitably spaced apart by balls 9 mounted on the said rod. Each box or casing b is provided near its upper end with a dispaly opening 10, with which a number on the tablet or slide a within the casing is adapted to register, as will be described.

The tablet a is secured to a rod 12 extending through the top and bottom of the box or casing 6 (see Fig. 3) and provided below the box or casing with a disk 13, which serves as a target for the operator to roll a ball 14 against and also cooperates with a stationary rod 15 to hold the tablet in its concealed position against the action of a spring 16, which encircles the rod 12 between the tablet and the bottom of the box.

The stationary rod 15 is located near the The box or casing b is provided with a removable front wall 20 and the side walls The upper end of the rod 12 may and preferably will be provided with a ball 30, which serves as an ornament and also as ahandle by means of which the operator can push the rod down.

In operation, the numbered tablets are normally concealed from View, being below the display openings 10 in the front walls of the casings, and said tablets are held in this position by the targets 13 engaging the under surface of the rod 15. The target 13 is released by being struck by the ball 14, which is rolled along the floor or surface 17 by the operator, who may be a child. When the ball 11 strikes a target with sufficient force, it moves the same backward until it is disengaged from the rod 15, whereupon the spring 16 is free to move the tablet a into register with the opening 10. The rearward movement of the target is permitted by the casing being pivotally mounted on the rod 0.

In Fig. 1, the tablet numbered 9 is shown displayed, its target having been hit by the ball 14, which is indicated by dotted lines.

The uprights (i may be rigidly secured to the base pieces f, or as is preferred, they may be hinged thereto and secured in their upright posit-ion by the hooks 32 attached to the uprights and adapted to engage eyes 33 on the base pieces.

It is preferred to have the uprights pivoted to the base pieces for convenience in shipping, and for storing when not in use, for by unfastening the hooks 32, the uprights can be turned down into a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 6.

I have herein shown one construction of apparatus embodying this invention, but it is not desired to limit the invention to the particular construction shown.

Claims.

1. In a game apparatus of the character described, in combination, uprights, a rod supported by said uprights, a plurality of casings pivotally mounted on said rod and provided with display openings, tablets in said casings, rods to which said tablets are secured, springs to move said tablets into line with said openings, targets secured to the lower end of said rods, and a rod secured to said uprights and with which the said targets are engaged to hold the tablets in their concealed position and from which they are capable of being disengaged to permit the springs to move the tablets into line with the display openings, substantially as described.

2. In a game apparatus of the character described, in combination, uprights, a rod supported by said uprights, a plurality of casings pivotally mounted on said rod and provided with display openings, tablets in said casings having side bearing pieces on their front surfaces, rods to which said tablets are secured, springs to move said tablets into line with said openings, target-s secured to the lower end of said rods, and a rod secured to said uprights and with which the said targets are engaged to hold the tablets in their concealed position and from which they are capable of being disengaged to permit the springs to move the tablets into line with the display openings, substantially as described.

3. In a game apparatus of the character described, in combination, a sliding tablet, a pivoted support for said tablet having a display opening with which said tablet cooperates, a movable rod to which said tablet is secured, a target secured to said rod below said support, holding means with which said target cooperates to normally maintain the tablet below the display opening and to hold the tablet-support stationary until the target is disengaged from said holding means, and means to move said tablet into register with the display opening, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. \VOOD.

Witnesses JAS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0." 

